Sneak Peak at the New Royal Princess

The all new Royal Princess; 141,000-tons and 3600 berths, will debut in spring, 2013.

The first "all new" ship design from Princess Cruises in almost a decade is coming in two years - the new Royal Princess; 141,000-tons and 3600 passenger berths, will debut in the spring of 2013.

Princess just gave us a sneak peak of the new ship, releasing a video with renderings to show her new exterior features. The two most immediately noticeable innovations are the glass-bottom cantilevered public areas on the top pool deck. Both will allow passengers to walk out over the side of the ship and see straight down to the ocean, 128-feet directly below.

On the starboard side the over-water SeaWalk extends from the edge of the ship by over 28 feet. It is glass enclosed all the way around; top, bottom and both sides, including the floor which creates an awe inspiring view of the ocean 128 feet directly below - as well as a commanding view of the entire ship from a vantage point usually only seen by the navigational officers on the bridge.

On the opposite, port, side of the ship will be the SeaView Bar - a cocktail lounge that extends over the edge of the ship a similar distance, also with a glass floor directly below the seating area for the bar.

Also on this deck is the nearby pool area to feature three different pools, two deep water pools for all ages, and a unique pool with seven private cabanas on the water's edge in the signature Princess adults-only Sanctuary.

The two pools in the family area will be separated by an island surrounded with palm trees. At night, the tropical island will become a spectacular dance club with dramatic lighting effects inside and around the pools.

A computer controlled water fountain will create intricate kinetic water sculpture and lighting effects. At the opposite end of one of the pools, at the midships point; will be the largest Movies under the Stars movie screen ever on a Princess ship - with free popcorn, of course.

Inside the new Royal Princess will be 260,000 square feet of public space. The ship will feature something new for Princess, a "significantly expanded" and even livelier atrium area, known as the Piazza Atrium. This will become the social hub and focal point of the ship with food available as both "quick bites" and even light meals on a constant and constantly changing basis. This will also be the area for beverages, entertainment, shopping and guest services.

One of the instantly noticeable features of the new ship's exterior is the beautiful, streamlined look. This is one of the prettiest ships, in terms of simple lines, I have seen in a long time. It is beautifully balanced and proportioned. Royal Princess will not have the varying deck widths on the passenger balcony cabin decks as the line featured on most of the recently built ships. That design led to balconies in a grandstand-like configuration where passengers in the upper deck staterooms could easily look down and see inside the balconies of the staterooms on the lower decks.

All of the balcony decks on Royal Princess are the same width. All outside staterooms on Royal Princess will have balconies, which comes out to 80-percent of the ship's entire selection of staterooms.

So you know, the name "Royal Princess has been used by Princess Cruises before on older vessels, and is currently in use for one of the line's smaller 700-passenger ships known for more exotic itineraries. That smaller ship will be transferred to sister company P&O Cruises in the U.K. the May, 2011, and will be renamed Adonia.